SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: Gaming earbuds don't get better than this

SteelSeries is synonymous with creating some of the best gaming headsets, and now it has dipped its toes into the in-ear waters with the new SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. And boy, they’ve set a high bar for all gaming earbuds going forward. As an avid gamer regularly found sinking hours into RPGs on my PlayStation 5 Slim, I’ve found that audio can make or break a game. That just makes the buds at hand even more exciting — the Arctis GameBuds make even the dullest of games sound phenomenal.

With 100+ game-tailored presets, you can enhance practically any game, from EA Sports FC 24 and Fortnite to Baldur’s Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2. The Arctis GameBuds are compatible with a wide range of consoles, feature active noise cancelation, look stylish, are lightweight and mighty comfortable — so what’s not to love?

For all the details, read my full SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review.

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: Specs

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A pair of wireless gaming earbuds compatible with a plethora of platforms
• Who is it for? For gamers who want to enhance their experience with mindblowing sound quality
• How much does it cost? The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are available for $159 / £159
• What do we like? The sleek looks, the lightweight yet sturdy build, outstanding sound quality thanks to 100+ game-tailored presets, effective active noise cancelation, and the extremely comfortable fit
• What don’t we like? There’s no multipoint connectivity and WearSense is a little sensitive

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: The ups

What’s not to like about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds? Effective ANC, incredible sound quality, comfortable fit, stylish design — the list goes on.

Light as a feather

When I first took the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds out of their packaging, I was taken aback by just how light the charging case with the earbuds in was. The case weighs 1.71 ounces while each bud weighs 0.18 ounces — feather-light. Despite being so lightweight, the Arctis GameBuds feel very sturdy, with the case and the earbuds having a premium feel to them. Made of hard plastic, the buds and the case both have a soft finish and feel good to the touch. The Arctis GameBuds look stylish too, sporting a triangular design. Watch out, Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore buds ($199), you’ve got some stiff competition.

Having worn the Arctis GameBuds for a six-hour-long gaming session, I was pleased that they didn’t fall out of my ears even once, and the seal didn’t loosen either. They’re also extremely comfortable, and I even took a nap with them. They’re so light that there were moments I forgot I was wearing them.

Immersive soundscapes

What impressed me the most about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 headset was its ability to transport you into the game and make you feel like the main character thanks to the amazing sound quality. The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds do just that too, offering crazy-good sound quality with 100+ game-tailored presets and neodymium magnetic drivers that make gaming more immersive. I tested this out by playing a few games on my PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

The earbuds feature 360° spatial audio which works well on both consoles and is amplified further on the PS5 as it supports Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio — it basically uses a re-engineered AMD graphics chip to process audio from hundreds of in-game sound sources. I played Ghost of Tsushima which is a ridiculously beautiful game and the Arctis GameBuds only made it better. I selected the dedicated preset within the app (more on that soon), and Jin Sakai walking on the crunchy grass became sharper and spatial audio ensured I was engulfed in the sound of the wind and running water behind me.

Horror presets work extremely well too. I fired up Alan Wake 2 to play the new Lake House DLC and chose the dedicated preset and if this game didn’t terrify you already, it will now. Enemy footsteps are slightly exaggerated which gave me chills and had me constantly looking over my shoulder. There are also presets for both The Legend of Zelda BOTW and TOTK on the Switch which very slightly enhance the soundscape. The sounds of Link’s abilities are amplified so you feel like you actually are Link, but that’s about it (still awesome though).

Not only are the Arctis GameBuds fantastic for gaming, but they’re awesome for listening to music too. I’ve been happily using them on my commute to and from work. Vocal-heavy tunes like “Achilles Come Down” by Gang of Youths and “Down the Witches’ Road” from Agatha All Along sound crystal clear and sharp. Meanwhile, you truly appreciate the heavy basslines in “Money” by Pink Floyd and “Jumpsuit” by Twenty One Pilots. Regardless of the genre you listen to, you’ll be satisfied with the Arctis GameBuds.

User-friendly app

This brings me to my next point: the SteelSeries Arctis app that accompanies the Arctis GameBuds. Available on iOS and Android, it’s your one-stop-shop for choosing presets, remapping the GameBuds’ controls, updating firmware, toggling WearSense (auto-pause playback when an earbud is removed), and more. The app is extremely intuitive and it makes personalizing the earbuds so much easier.

Block out the world

My favorite gaming headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 but I did point out in my review that it didn’t have active noise cancelation — which is fine, as not many gaming headsets do. But I’m so happy that the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds feature effective ANC. The earbuds have a great seal and combined with ANC, block out most sounds. I used the earbuds on a busy bus and wasn’t disturbed by people chatting or the sound of traffic. In my apartment, I couldn’t hear the kettle boiling.

The earbuds also feature transparency mode which, when enabled, lets you hear sounds clearly so you can have a conversation without having to take the Arctis GameBuds out — and it works well too.

Every console under the sun

Which device isn’t the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds pair compatible with? You can get the earbuds in one of two variants: PlayStation or Xbox. The former will be compatible with PS5, PS4 and PlayStation Portal, while the latter will pair with Xbox Series X, Series S and Xbox One. Regardless of the variant you choose, both will also be compatible with PC, macOS, iPhone, Android, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 2. That’s crazy good compatibility. Most other gaming earbuds I’ve tested can only connect to a few of these systems or devices.

For the long gaming sessions

The battery life of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds is respectable too. With 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connected, ANC off and volume at 100%, a single charge will last you 10 hours and you’ll get an additional 30 hours from the charging case. I used these earbuds with these settings and the numbers added up. With ANC on, I squeezed around seven hours of playtime.

In comparison, the Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore last just five hours (10 hours from charging case). Also, the Arctis GameBuds’ case can be charged wirelessly which earns it brownie points.

Bang for your buck

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have a retail price of $159 at Amazon U.S. / £159 at Amazon U.K. which might sound pricey at first but given all the outstanding features, they’re great value for money. In comparison, the Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore cost $199 as do the Sony InZone Buds, while the Logitech G Fits cost an eyewatering $230. None offer as many features as SteelSeries’ offering.

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: The downs

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are practically perfect, so much so that I’ve really had to nitpick to find flaws — and I’ve found only two.

No multipoint connectivity

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds can be connected to your console or device either via Bluetooth 5.3 or the Quick-switch 2.4GHz dongle. Alas, you can only connect to one device at a time over Bluetooth. If you value this, I’d recommend the Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore instead.

A little too sensitive

As I mentioned earlier, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds feature WearSense which is basically wear detection where playback will pause when an earbud is removed and resume when it’s inserted back in. However, I found it a little too sensitive. I noticed that playback would pause if I even slightly moved an earbud to place it better in my ear. This would happen even while I was lying down and I’d roll over. I ended up disabling WearSense altogether because of how annoying it became. It’s the same issue I had with the very expensive HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC ($349).

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: Verdict

If you’re on the hunt for in-ear gaming buds, you really can’t go wrong with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. These earbuds are perfect for long gaming sessions as they’re very comfortable — and they look cool too. But their biggest selling point is the awesome sound quality. Neodymium magnetic drivers deliver 360° spatial audio and on the PS5 they utilize Tempest 3D Audio to create immersive soundscapes. You can also use the user-friendly companion app to choose one of 100+ game-tailored presets, many of which I tested and work very well. Oh, and these buds also feature effective ANC, while music through them sounds great too.

The Arctis GameBuds don’t have a lot of drawbacks. Wear detection is a little too sensitive, and there’s no multipoint connectivity.

At the end of the day, though, the Arctis GameBuds are the only pair of gaming earbuds you’ll ever need.